W124 - 1987 300TD - Intermittent Starting Issue

[mike100]

Hi

I have an 87 300 TD that has driven perfectly (aside from new alternator one year ago) since I bought it three years ago. Yesterday I went to the store and when I came out I turned the key and nothing happened, although all the lights on the dash come on as normal. I then moved the auto transmission stick through the gears and wiggled it about a bit and hey presto, she started.

I came home and did some research and found all sorts of possibilities, including parking on a slope, ignition barrel wear, fuel lines/pump, battery terminals and starter motor.

So this morning I got in the car (garaged overnight, by no means 'cold') and tried to start it and it wouldn't crank. Same as yesterday, run through the gears and it started. So I did the easy stuff: I tightened the battery connections and i removed the center console around the gear shift so I could vacuum out any debris/dust. I then tried to start the car and it wouldn't start, so I went through the gears and sure enough she started.

I could be completely wrong, but it seems to me that the car thinks it's in drive when it is in fact in park.

Anyone had this experience before or have any ideas? All input gratefully received.